Serving police officers today backed Donald Trump's claim that some Muslim communities in the UK are no-go areas because of extremism.

Several Met officers have said the 'Islamification' of some parts of the capital requires 'extra vigilance' and they can't wear uniforms for safety reasons - despite Scotland Yard claiming the tycoon 'couldn't be more wrong'.

Home Secretary Theresa May tonight rejected Mr Trump's claims, insisting: 'The police in London are not afraid to go out and police the streets.'

The US presidential contender caused worldwide consternation yesterday after a string of incendiary remarks about Muslims, including in Britain, and said: 'We have places in London and other places that are so radicalised that police are afraid for their own lives.'

But one serving officer said today Trump had 'pointed out something plainly obvious, something which I think we aren't as a nation willing to own up to'.

Another policeman said that he and other colleagues fear being terror targets and spoke of the 'dire warning' from bosses not to wear a uniform 'even in my own car'.

It came as more than 250,000 people - seven people every second - signed a petition demanding Mr Trump is banned from Britain for being a 'hate preacher' - an idea rejected by Chancellor George Osborne.

Support: Met Police officers and colleagues from other forces today backed Donald Trump over his policing comments despite Scotland Yard saying the tycoon 'could not be more wrong' (file picture - these officers are not the ones who spoke out today)

Controversial: Mr Trump was branded a 'hate preacher' last night and faced calls to be banned from Britain over his comments, including calling for an American immigration ban for Muslims

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Mr Trump has said the US should close its borders to all Muslim migrants and claims parts of Britain are no-go areas because of Islamic extremism.

MPs responded by calling for the property tycoon to be stopped from entering Britain, where he owns several golf courses. Scotland Yard also hit back last night,

But one serving officer in west London said: 'Islamification has and is occurring', adding: 'You have to have extra vigilance in certain parts when you are working'.

Even if one of us did get killed or dragged off in a van. It would just be reported as a 'one-off incident' and no reason to change the 'British style of policing

Female Met Police officer

He told right-wing website Breitbart: 'When I was a teenage lad in Burnley there were no go white areas. This is the case still nationally, including London where you have to have extra vigilance in certain parts when you are working'.

A Lancashire Police officer, who wished to remain anonymous, told MailOnline: 'There are Muslim areas of Preston that, if we wish to patrol, we have to contact local Muslim community leaders to get their permission'.

Lancashire Constabulary have subsequently stated that such a claim is without foundation and said that this is not the case.

One officer from Yorkshire said on the online forum Police.Community: 'I'm not allowed to travel in half blues to work anymore IN MY OWN CAR as we're 'All at risk of attack' - yet as soon as someone points out the obvious it's 'divisive.'

He added: 'In this instance he (Trump) isn't wrong. Our political leaders are best either ill-informed or simply being disingenuous.

'He's pointed out something that is plainly obvious, something which I think we aren't as a nation willing to own up to - do you think a US Police Department would ban officers from wearing their uniforms under jackets etc due to FEAR of their cops being killed by extremists?

'We implement half measures such as 'No-one is allowed to come into work half blues, even in your own cars because if you get beheaded it'll be your own fault.

'It would be seen as un-American, un-democratic, not the done thing... In the UK though we accept it'.

One female officer in the Met said if a police officer was attacked it would be written off.

She said: 'Even if one of us did get killed or dragged off in a van. It would just be reported as a 'one-off incident' and no reason to change the 'British style of policing.'

Home Secretary Theresa May tonight rejected Mr Trump's claims, insisting: 'The police in London are not afraid to go out and police the streets' while in the Commons George Osborne rejected the call to ban Mr Trump, but called for 'robust debate' to defeat his 'nonsense'

WILL TRUMP JOIN LOVE COACH, FRENCH COMIC AND FAR-RIGHT MP BANNED FROM THE UK?

Pick-up coach Julien Blanc

November 2014: 'Pick up coach' Julien Blanc joined a short list of people banned from the UK in recent years. He runs a company that claims to teach men to seduce women and make them 'beg' for sex but was stopped from flying in to the UK for a 'bootcamp'. Critics say his methods, such as threatening to commit suicide and isolating women from friends, are abusive and controlling and more than 136,000 people signed a petition for him to be refused a visa and Home Office ministers intervened.

Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala

February 2014: French celebrity Dieudonne M'bala M'bala was banned last year. The 'comedian', with convictions for inciting racial hatred, was at the centre of a Premier League anti-Semitism row. He said he would come to London to support then West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka, who did a 'quenelle' salute. But the Home Office decided he was not allowed into the country, adding him to Britain's banned list.

American blogger Pamela Geller

2013: Conservative American bloggers Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer were banned. They are the founders of the anti-Muslim group Stop Islamization of America and they run the website Jihad Watch. Both were planning on speaking at an English Defence League march in Woolwich, where Lee Rigby was murdered, but were stopped by the UK Border Agency. The two were banned on the basis that their presence would bot be 'conductive to the public good.' In letters sent to Geller and Spencer, the Home Department explained to them that it can expel, deport, or deny entry to any non-UK national who violates the British government's 'unacceptable behaviour' policy.

Far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders

2009: Far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders was turned back at Heathrow as he tried to defy a ban on entering Britain. He was barred from the UK because he was likely to incite hatred and his visit a threat to 'community harmony and therefore public security'. He was seized by border guards after his aircraft touched down, and questioned for more than an hour before flying back to the Netherlands.

American 'shock jock' radio presenter Michael Savage

2009: Controversial American 'shock jock' radio presenter Michael Savage was barred from entering the UK. Savage broadcasts that were deemed a 'threat to national security', especially after he said: 'You know, when I see a woman walking around with a burqa, I see a Nazi.' He has called the Koran 'a book of hate' and added that some Muslims, at least, 'need deportation'. The Right-wing radio presenter's hardline views on Islam, rape and autism have also caused outrage in the US.

Another Met officer who resigned this year said: 'I was a PC in the Met for 11 years - I resigned as I couldn't handle it anymore

'Whilst provocative Trump's comments does carry some weight. PCs are not permitted to even come to work in 'half Blues' (just wearing trousers and shirt) for fear of attack whilst going to work. That is a directive from Scotland Yard.

'PCs have come out to find police cars having the brake lines cut and sometimes their own personal cars damaged'.

Another serving police officer agreed and said: 'Same here regarding the dire warnings of wearing half blues even in my own car and I'm not in London'.

But another officer responded: 'I don't think banning people from wearing half blues/blacks (uniforms) on the way in is about fear, I think it's about minimising risk wherever possible. If there's enough evidence to support the current threat level then why make life easy for people who will try and target us?'.

Another serving officer told LBC Radio: 'There has been a time when it's been advised not to wear half-blues or uniform to and from work.

'It's like damage limitation. You try to do the most you can to prevent anything bad from happening.

'All intelligence is around you and you do the best with that to essentially stay safe. And if that means taking measures to not identify yourself off-duty too much then so be it.

'It's covering your backs. It's a common sense approach'.

In 2014 Tom Winsor, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, caused a row when he claimed minority communities had turned their back on police.

He told The Times: 'There are some communities born under other skies who will not involve police at all.

'I am reluctant to name the communities in question but there are communities from other cultures who would prefer to police themselves.

'There are cities in the Midlands where the police never go because they are never called. They never hear of any trouble because the community deals with that on its own. They just have their own form of community justice'.

Mr Winsor said some forces get 'close to zero' calls in some areas.

He said: 'They don't know what injustices are being perpetrated. It's almost a closed book because we can't go there so don't know. It could be anything from low-level crime right up to murder are the most extreme example. That is murder. There is no honour in it.'

Seven people every second are signing a government petition to ban Donald Trump from Britain for 'hate speech' after the tycoon's claims that police in London 'fear for their lives' because some communities are so radicalised.

David Cameron, Jeremy Corbyn, Nicola Sturgeon, Boris Johnson and even Scotland Yard issued strongly-worded condemnation of the outspoken businessman after he claimed: 'We have places in London and other places that are so radicalised that police are afraid for their own lives.'

Mr Johnson, the Mayor of London said Mr Trump was speaking 'utter nonsense' and openly mocked the American, adding: 'The only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump.'

A petition on the UK government website to ban Mr Trump from Britain on the grounds of hate speech had attracted more than 200,000 signatures today.

It said: 'The UK has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech. The same principles should apply to everyone who wishes to enter the UK.

'If the United Kingdom is to continue applying the 'unacceptable behaviour' criteria to those who wish to enter its borders, it must be fairly applied to the rich as well as poor, and the weak as well as powerful.'

In an interview on American TV last night Mr Trump branded people who oppose his plans to ban Muslim immigration 'foolish' and insisted he is not a bigot.

He said that criticism of his words - including on London - were politically motivated.

He said: 'I'm the worst thing that ever happened to ISIS. The people in my party fully understand that - they're running against me. For the most part, they have no poll numbers. I'm leading by a lot. They get it. They're trying to get publicity for themselves'.

But speaking at an event at the US Embassy tonight, Mrs May said: 'I can assure you that Donald Trump has got it absolutely wrong. The police in London are not afraid to go out and police the streets.

'They do a fantastic job for us day in, day out. We have seen police officers actually go forward in the line of duty when they are required to do so to protect citizens here in London and elsewhere in the UK,' Huffington Post reported.

Mrs May added: “Politicians should be very careful as we are dealing with the issue of terrorism, as we fight terrorism, we need to be bringing communities together. Bringing greater cohesion in communities, not seeking to divide.”

Anger: British politicians have called for the Republican to be banned from Britain over his comments

An Unboxed map showing where people are signing the petition shows the most signatures have come from London, Edinburgh and Bristol.

Now it has reached more than 250,000 it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Standing in for Mr Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions today, Mr Osborne dismissed Mr Trump's 'nonsense' and insisted the police have a good relationship with British Muslims.

The Chancellor told MPs: 'Donald Trump's comments fly in the face of the founding principles of the United States.

'I think the best way to defeat this nonsense like this is to engage in robust democratic debate and make it clear his views are not welcome.'

He added: 'That's the best way to deal with Donald Trump and his views rather than trying to ban presidential candidates.'

A petition on the UK government website to ban Mr Trump from Britain on the grounds of hate speech has attracted more than 250,000 signatures and will now be considered for debate in Parliament

BRITISH POLITICIANS AND POLICE CONDEMN 'APPALLING' TRUMP

London Mayor Boris Johnson: 'The only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump.'

Metropolitan Police: 'We would not normally dignify such comments with a response, however on this occasion we think it's important to state to Londoners that Mr Trump could not be more wrong.'

Tory mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith: 'Donald Trump is an appalling creature and I just pray that when America gets off this funfair ride that they're on at the moment, they recognise that Donald Trump is one of the most malignant figures in modern politics and I hope his campaign ends in absolute disaster.'

Labour mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan: 'If Trump has his way, I'd be stopped at US customs and turned back - alongside other Muslims wanting to go for holidays, work or family visits.'

Labour's shadow Home Office minister Jack Dromey: 'I do not believe that a man who stirs up religious and racial hatred at a time when our country is under threat of terrorist attack should be allowed within 1,000 miles of our shores.'

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon: 'Mr Trump's views are repugnant, and they clearly do not represent the mainstream views of people across America.'

Mr Trump sparked global fury after suggesting that all Muslims should be banned from entering the United States in the wake of last week's deadly mass shooting in San Bernardino where 14 people were killed by two suspected ISIS sympathisers.

In a statement released to the media, Mr Trump said he was 'calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on'.

He added: 'Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life.

'I think that we should definitely disallow any Muslims from coming in. Any of them. The reason is simple: we can't identify what their attitude is.'

Mr Trump also tried to use the terror attacks in Paris to bolster his argument and said: 'Look at what happened in Paris, the horrible carnage, and frankly, if you look at Paris, and I hate to do this because the Chamber of Commerce is going to go crazy, but Paris is no longer the same city it was.

'They have sections in Paris that are radicalised, where the police refuse to go there. They're petrified. The police refuse to go in there'.

Asked what she would do about the US politician in response to his comments, Walthamstow MP Miss Creasy said: 'Be clear he's a hate preacher and therefore not welcome round here.'

The British Prime Minister was quick to condemn the remarks yesterday. Mr Cameron's official spokesman said: 'The PM clearly disagrees with the comments made by Donald Trump which are divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong.'

'As we look at how we tackle extremists and this poisonous ideology, what politicians need to do is look at ways that they can bring communities together and make it clear these terrorists are not representatives of Islam.'

Downing Street refused to be drawn on suggestions that Mr Trump should be banned from entering the UK for inciting racial hatred.

But Labour's shadow home office minister Jack Dromey backed calls for him to barred from Britain.

'I do not believe that a man who stirs up religious and racial hatred at a time when our country is under threat of terrorist attack should be allowed within 1,000 miles of our shores,' he told the Birmingham Mail.

Mr Trump responded to his critics by saying 'I don't care' adding that he has no interest in being 'politically correct.'

He also defended this idea of a ban by claiming the country was at risk of 'horrendous attacks by people that believe only in jihad' and citing a questionable poll that found 25 per cent of Muslims 'agreed that violence against Americans here in the United States is justified as a part of the global Jihad.'

Sit down: Donald Trump said in an interview with Barbara Walters on Tuesday he is not a bigot and does not regret his proposed ban on Muslims

Explanation: He also said he has 'tremendous relationships' with many Muslims who completely agree with him on this issue

Picking fights: Mr Trump also took the time to call his critics 'foolish' on Twitter

Doubling down: He continued to talk about his plan and how important it was on Twitter Tuesday

As the row over his remarks exploded in Britain, Scotland Yard took the unusual decision to issue public criticism of a foreign politician.

THE OUTSPOKEN WIT AND PROVOCATIVE WISDOM OF DONALD TRUMP

Announcing his candidacy for the presidency: 'When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're sending people who have lots of problems [which include] drugs and being rapists.'

On immigration: 'I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall.'

On Fox News's Megyn Kelly, who Trump disliked for her questioning: 'You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever.'

On his own wealth: 'I'm using my own money, I'm not using the lobbyists, I'm not using donors. I'm really rich.'

On President Obama: 'If he wasn't born in this country, it's one of the great scams of all time.'

On presidential rival Carly Fiorina: 'Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that? The face of our next president?'

On Republican Senator John McCain, who was a PoW in the Vietnam War: 'He's a hero because he was captured? I like people who weren't captured.'

On comedian Rosie O'Donnell, with whom he has a feud: 'If I were running [talk show] The View, I'd fire her. I'd look at her right in that fat, ugly face of hers, I'd say: 'Rosie, you're fired'.'

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'We would not normally dignify such comments with a response, however on this occasion we think it's important to state to Londoners that Mr Trump could not be more wrong.

'Any candidate for the presidential election in the United States of America is welcome to receive a briefing from the Met Police on the reality of policing London.'

Zac Goldsmith, Tory candidate to be London Mayor, told a press gallery lunch yesterday: 'Donald Trump began as a bit of a joke and people probably quite liked the idea of him ruffling feathers and knocking people around a bit during the campaign for selection.

'But he has gone way beyond being a joke now, he has become overtly an utterly repellent figure in modern politics.'

He added: 'I think Donald Trump is an appalling creature and I just pray that when America gets off this funfair ride that they're on at the moment, they recognise that Donald Trump is one of the most malignant figures in modern politics and I hope his campaign ends in absolute disaster.'

Labour's candidate Sadiq Khan, who is Muslim, said: 'As a potential future Mayor of London I want to be able to visit and talk to other mayors in America and learn from what they're doing.

'If Trump has his way, I'd be stopped at US customs and turned back - alongside other Muslims wanting to go for holidays, work or family visits.'

'Trump can't just be dismissed as a buffoon – his comments are outrageous, divisive and dangerous - I condemn them utterly.'

Labour's shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said he was 'was appalled by his comments which have caused deep offence and sought to divide communities for political gain when we should be bringing people together'.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: 'Donald Trump's comments are obnoxious and offensive, and have rightly been condemned by people across the political spectrum, in the United States and elsewhere.

'Mr Trump's views are repugnant, and they clearly do not represent the mainstream views of people across America.'

Mr Trump, and many of his Republican rivals, had already called on the Obama Administration to halt bringing in 10,000 Syrian refugees during the aftermath of the Nov. 13 ISIS attacks in Paris.

At the time, Mr Trump said he would prefer to just take in Christian refugees.

'The problem is we don't know if they're Christian or not. And I would certainly say that would be superior,' he said in an interview with Barbara Walters several days after the attack.

Other Republican candidates are doing everything they can however to make it clear that while they may want to halt the entry of Syrian refugees, they certainly do not agree with Mr Trump's plan to ban Muslims.

'Donald Trump is unhinged. His 'policy' proposals are not serious', said Jeb Bush on Twitter.

Carly Fiorina attacked both Mr Trump and President Obama in her response, saying; 'Trump's overreaction is as dangerous as President Obama's under-reaction.'

Ben Carson also spoke out against Mr Trump, though did call for monitoring of visitors in the country.

'Everyone visiting our country should register and be monitored during their stay as is done in many countries. I do not and would not advocate being selective on one's religion,' said Carson.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul did not attack Trump's plan or even comment on the idea, instead responding to the question by pointing out legislation he created to block immigrants and visitors from areas with 'known radical elements.'

Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton responded on Twitter: 'We've seen a lot of hateful rhetoric from the GOP. But the idea that we'd turn away refugees because of religion is a new low.'

NOW SCOTTISH UNIVERSITY REVOKES TRUMP'S HONORARY DEGREE

US tycoon Donald Trump received an honorary degree in Aberdeen at the Robert Gordon University - now it has been revoked

A Scottish university tonight revoked Donald Trump's honorary degree.

Mr Trump, who is currently running for the Republican presidential candidature, was awarded a Doctorate of Business Administration from Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen in October 2010.

An online petition was set up last month by Suzanne Kelly and it accuses the controversial businessman of 'hate speech' and demands his degree be removed 'with immediate effect'.

By 5pm on Wednesday it had been signed by more than 67,000 people.

At 5.20pm a spokesman for the university said in a statement: 'In the course of the current US election campaign, Mr Trump has made a number of statements that are wholly incompatible with the ethos and values of the university.

'The university has therefore decided to revoke its award of the honorary degree.'

The decision comes as Mr Trump sparked outrage in the US after saying there should be 'a total and complete shutdown' of Muslims entering the country.

The petition, organised by the 38 Degrees campaign group, stated: 'We respectfully request that Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen) strips Donald Trump of the honorary degree it bestowed on him with immediate effect.

'Why is this important? We feel that Donald Trump's unrepentant, persistent verbal attacks on various groups of people based on nationality, religion, race and physical abilities are a huge detriment to RGU.

'Hate speech must not have a place in academia, in politics or on the world stage. We are confident RGU will agree with the petitioners, and act swiftly.'

The petition statement also noted the opposition that had existed when Mr Trump was awarded the degree in 2010, most notably from Dr David Kennedy, a former principal of RGU.

Robin Priestley, from 38 Degrees, said: 'This is a great victory for people power. 70,000 people signed the 38 Degrees petition, Robert Gordon University quickly realised that honouring Donald Trump was completely out of step with the feelings of the UK public. We're really glad they saw sense and did the right thing.'

The degree was awarded when Mr Trump had been building a £750million golf course in Aberdeenshire and RGU said it had chosen to confer the honour in recognition of his business acumen, entrepreneurial vision and the long-term future his company had planned in the north-east of Scotland.

This article includes a comment from an anonymous source who claimed to be a serving Lancashire Police officer and gave credible corroborative detail. We have been contacted by Lancashire Constabulary which has stated that the officer’s claim was without foundation. We are happy to make this clear and have updated the story accordingly.